Z. Gao

Bio: Z. Gao is an academic researcher from University of Science and Technology of China. The author has contributed to research in topics: Branching fraction & Electron–positron annihilation. The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 92 publications receiving 2262 citations.

Future Physics Programme of BESIII

Abstract: There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like XYZ states at BESIII and B factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related X(1835) meson state at BESIII, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons. We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESIII during the remaining operation period of BEPCII. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCII to higher luminosity.

Precise Measurement of the e+e- →π+π-J /ψ Cross Section at Center-of-Mass Energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV

Abstract: The cross section for the process e(+)e(-)-> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi is measured precisely at center-of-mass energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV using 9 fb(-1) of data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. Two resonant structures are observed in a fit to the cross section. The first resonance has a mass of (222.0 +/- 3.1 +/- 1.4) MeV/ c(2) and a width of (44.1 +/- 4.3 +/- 2.0)MeV, while the second one has a mass of (4320.0 +/- 10.4 +/- 7.0)MeV/c(2) and a width of (101.4(- 19.7)(+25.3) +/- 10.2) MeV, where the first errors are statistical and second ones are systematic. The first resonance agrees with the Y(4260) resonance reported by previous experiments. The precision of its resonant parameters is improved significantly. The second resonance is observed in e(+)e(-)-> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi for the first time. The statistical significance of this resonance is estimated to be larger than 7.6 sigma. The mass and width of the second resonance agree with the Y(4360) resonance reported by the BABAR and Belle experiments within errors. Finally, the Y(4008) resonance previously observed by the Belle experiment is not confirmed in the description of the BESIII data.

Measurements of Absolute Hadronic Branching Fractions of the Lambda(+)(c) Baryon

Abstract: We report the first measurement of absolute hadronic branching fractions of Lambda(+)(c) baryon at the Lambda(+)(c)(Lambda) over bar (-)(c) production threshold, in the 30 years since the Lambda(+)(c) discovery. In total, 12 Cabibbo-favored Lambda(+)(c) hadronic decay modes are analyzed with a double-tag technique, based on a sample of 567 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) collisions at root s = 4.599 GeV recorded with the BESIII detector. A global least-squares fitter is utilized to improve the measured precision. Among the measurements for twelve Lambda(+)(c) decay modes, the branching fraction for Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+) is determined to be (5.84 +/- 0.27 +/- 0.23)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. In addition, the measurements of the branching fractions of the other 11 Cabibbo-favored hadronic decay modes are significantly improved.

Evidence of Two Resonant Structures in e+e- π+π−hc

Abstract: The cross sections of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) hc at center-of-mass energies from 3.896 to 4.600 GeVare measured using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. The cross sections are found to be of the same order of magnitude as those of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi and e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) psi (2S), but the line shape is inconsistent with the Y states observed in the latter two modes. Two structures are observed in the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) hc cross sections around 4.22 and 4.39 GeV/c(2), which we call Y(4220)and Y(4390), respectively. A fit with a coherent sum of two Breit-Wigner functions results in a mass of (4218.4(- 4.5)(vertical bar 5.5) +/- 0.9) MeV/ c(2) and a width of (66.0(- 8.3)(vertical bar 12.3) +/- 0.4) MeV for the Y(4220), and a mass of (4391.5(- 6.8)(+6.3) +/- 1.0) MeV/c(2) and a width of (139.5(- 20.6)(+16.2) +/- 0.6) MeV for the Y(4390), where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The statistical significance of Y(4220) and Y(4390) is 10 sigma over one structure assumption.

Hadronic molecules

Abstract: A large number of experimental discoveries especially in the heavy quarkonium sector that did not at all fit to the expectations of the until then very successful quark model led to a renaissance of hadron spectroscopy Among various explanations of the internal structure of these excitations, hadronic molecules, being analogues of light nuclei, play a unique role since for those predictions can be made with controlled uncertainty We review experimental evidences of various candidates of hadronic molecules, and methods of identifying such structures Nonrelativistic effective field theories are the suitable framework for studying hadronic molecules, and are discussed in both the continuum and finite volumes Also pertinent lattice QCD results are presented Further, we discuss the production mechanisms and decays of hadronic molecules, and comment on the reliability of certain assertions often made in the literature

Molecular principles of metastasis: a hallmark of cancer revisited

Abstract: Metastasis is the hallmark of cancer that is responsible for the greatest number of cancer-related deaths. Yet, it remains poorly understood. The continuous evolution of cancer biology research and the emergence of new paradigms in the study of metastasis have revealed some of the molecular underpinnings of this dissemination process. The invading tumor cell, on its way to the target site, interacts with other proteins and cells. Recognition of these interactions improved the understanding of some of the biological principles of the metastatic cell that govern its mobility and plasticity. Communication with the tumor microenvironment allows invading cancer cells to overcome stromal challenges, settle, and colonize. These characteristics of cancer cells are driven by genetic and epigenetic modifications within the tumor cell itself and its microenvironment. Establishing the biological mechanisms of the metastatic process is crucial in finding open therapeutic windows for successful interventions. In this review, the authors explore the recent advancements in the field of metastasis and highlight the latest insights that contribute to shaping this hallmark of cancer.

Nonstandard heavy mesons and baryons: Experimental evidence

Abstract: Quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the generally accepted theory for strong interactions, describes the interactions between quarks and gluons. The strongly interacting particles that are seen in nature are hadrons, which are composites of quarks and gluons. Since QCD is a strongly coupled theory at distance scales that are characteristic of observable hadrons, there are no rigorous, first-principle methods to derive the spectrum and properties of the hadrons from the QCD Lagrangian, except for lattice QCD simulations that are not yet able to cope with all aspects of complex and short-lived states. Instead, a variety of “QCD inspired” phenomenological models have been proposed. Common features of these models are predictions for the existence of hadrons with substructures that are more complex than the standard quark-antiquark mesons and the three-quark baryons of the original quark model that provides a concise description of most of the low-mass hadrons. Recently, an assortment of candidates for nonstandard multiquark mesons, meson-gluon hybrids, and pentaquark baryons that contain heavy (charm or bottom) quarks has been discovered. Here the experimental evidence for these states is reviewed and some general comparisons of their measured properties with standard quark model expectations and predictions of various models for nonstandard hadrons are made. The conclusion is that the spectroscopy of all but the simplest hadrons is not yet understood.